Order and Chaos

There’s an infinite number of ways to approach every situation, interpret every word and every passage from every book.

There are emotions to contend with, moral complexity and an established and growing social movement that suggests you can do almost whatever you like whenever you feel like it.

This type of freedom has even been established as ‘your individual right’.

Sanctioned freedoms combined with a breakdown of the fundamental structures and moral fabric of society; creates a kind of existential personal chaos – where right and wrong no longer exist and the individual rules above all else.

In your pursuit of happiness, anything goes!

The truth is, nothing ever gets done in a complete state of chaos.

Chaos by its very definition means infinite uncertainty and unpredictability, this does nothing more than breed fear, anxiety and helplessness.

On the other end of the spectrum is order.

Although order gives you a level of certainty and comfort, if things are too ordered, the necessary complexity doesn’t exist for growth to occur.

And personal growth is the antidote to stagnation and regression – that feeling of being ‘stuck’ in life.

Life in essence is then a dance (and balancing act) between maintaining order and embracing chaos.

There’s a tension that exists between these two that you need to be able to navigate skilfully.

Most people live in a kind of confused mental and emotional 'chaos' and hide in the comforts of too much order so they never really have to deal with it.

This is where the breakdowns begin to occur.

Establishing and then 'anchoring' yourself in some fundamental truths, values and beliefs will help you avoid getting swept up in the tide of chaos and prevent you from drifting away aimlessly.

With some order and clarity, also comes purpose and direction. And it's by moving forward, in the direction of your purpose, where life happens.

Embracing more complexity can be as simple as assuming greater responsibility whilst stepping courageously into the unknown from time to time.